Ogre Raid: The Bloody Lure
All the adventurers participating in the Ogre Raid on that fateful day gathered at the west gate of Niznino. It was because the stairs leading to the 20th floor and today's target, the ogre, were just a 30-minute march away.
The commanders from each squad of the Pharos Guild gave final instructions to their team members right up to the end. Namgung Seojun, Li Zhangwei, and Dmitri, who belonged to the charge squad, listened to his explanation one last time.
"As you've heard dozens of times in training, the operation is really simple. The charge squad's job is to lure the ogre and bring it to the area where the attack squad can strike."
Once the charge squad lured the ogre to the pre-prepared area, a high-circle formation magic would activate, weakening the ogre's defenses, and the attack squad would finish it off with their assaults. It was a straightforward plan. But it was also one that anticipated sacrifices from the charge squad during the lure and from the defense squad if the attack squad failed to kill the ogre quickly.
"Then, I look forward to your safe return."
With that, the briefing ended, and everyone formed up and prepared. Then, the Pharos Guild master shouted,
"Ogre Raid begins!"
"Waaah!!!"
With cheers from all who craved victory, the Ogre Raid was officially declared underway.
As the charge squad moved toward the raid site, Namgung Seojun stuck close to Dmitri and spoke to her.
"You? Your body's fully recovered, right?"
Five days earlier, Seojun had taken her virginity. And he'd fucked her extremely roughly. His Super Sense had even awakened her masochistic tendencies.
"Hah. Fuck! You're the one who completely ravaged my body—how dare you ask? You fucked me while slapping the shit out of me. You violent bastard. My pussy and ass felt like they were ripping apart... hell, they ripped a little."
"But honestly, you loved it."
"......Yeah, that's true."
Dmitri was straightforward. A taste she'd never known had been developed by Seojun, that much was certain. It had been violent and painful, but sex with Namgung Seojun was utter ecstasy. The sensation from his massive cock was a pleasure she'd never experienced in her life.
"And I gave you mid-grade potions to recover."
"Right. With the mid-grade potions and multiple heals from Yuki, I'm honestly fine now."
She said it with a smile, and Namgung Seojun stroked her head as he replied,
"Survive, and stick with me. I'll give you even better experiences... pleasures you've never dreamed of."
"Got it. Looking forward to it. I'll survive no matter what. Fuck... dying after tasting that would be too unfair."
Dmitri steeled herself to live once more.
The Pharos Guild master confirmed the prepared adventurers. The charge squad's mission was to approach the ogre, risk their lives to draw it out, and lead it to the battle zone: 123 members. The formation operators who would trap the ogre in the battle zone and weaken its defenses: 10 members. The attack squad that would slay the weakened ogre with powerful magic and strikes: 56 members. And the defense squad that would protect the attack squad with their lives while they did it: 89 members. In total, 278 adventurers made up the raid force.
The Pharos Guild had nurtured the 10 formation operators and 56 attackers over months, so they were highly confident in taking down the ogre. But the guild master could only hope for as few deaths as possible among the charge and defense squads who would perish in the process as he watched the raid unfold.
As soon as the raid began, the charge squad moved first. They headed to the stairwell entrance to the 20th floor, where the ogre loomed as in their simulation training.
"Zzzzzz."
The massive ogre was sleeping at the entrance. As a giant ogre placed there to guard the 20th-floor entrance, it slumbered unless someone approached.
'Gulp...'
It felt like someone in the charge squad swallowed hard. Even asleep, the ogre's enormous, over-5-meter frame—a hulking mass of muscle—was overwhelmingly intimidating. Without contracts binding them, most adventurers would have instinctively fled in terror right then and there.
In that tense atmosphere, the charge squad leader at the front shouted to prevent further hesitation.
"Charge!"
At his command, the charge squad adventurers yelled and ran toward the ogre as trained.
"Waaah!!"
The 30 at the forefront were 2nd Class Slaves prepared by the guild. Knowing execution awaited if they didn't lead the charge, they had no choice but to rush the ogre.
As they approached, the ogre woke.
"Grrr...."
When the over-5-meter behemoth rose, it felt like a building standing up.
"......"
The sheer pressure halted every charging adventurer—even the slave warriors risking their lives up front—momentarily.
And then!
"Queeeek! Eeeek!!!!!"
The ogre let out a monstrous roar. The fear it induced froze the lead slave warriors in place.
Bam!
The ogre slammed its palm down, crushing two slave warriors like flies.
Its other hand moved swiftly.
Whoosh.
"Aaaack!"
The ogre grabbed another slave warrior, shoved him into its mouth, and started chewing.
Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!
"Aaaaack!!!!"
The slave warrior's agonized screams cut off abruptly as the ogre swallowed.
"......Run!!"
One adventurer blurted it out on instinct. Unlike simulations, the ogre's overwhelming presence left only the urge to flee.
The entire charge squad scattered in all directions, and the ogre, hungry, began hunting them down in reverse.
"Guild master, the charge squad has awakened the ogre. And the charge squad adventurers are fleeing."
This matched the training scenario so far. The charge squad's remaining role was to flee to the designated battle zone, luring the ogre.
"Casualties?"
"Not fully confirmed, but about 19."
Nineteen dead just 10 minutes in. Faster than expected... The guild master stayed as calm as possible.
"The reserves are ready in case the charge squad fails, right?"
"Yes, 30 reserves on standby."
Thirty guild reserves—talents too valuable for the raid—but they might need deploying now.
"Save me!!"
Crunch! Crunch!
Cries for mercy mixed with the ogre chewing adventurers echoed terrifyingly across the field.
No matter how hard the charge squad ran, they were no match for the ogre's speed.
Whoosh.
"Aaaack!"
Crunch... Crunch!!
The charge squad desperately fled toward the agreed spot, but the ogre snatched them one by one, stuffing them straight into its maw.
At the sight, the charge squad ran for their lives. Namgung Seojun, Li Zhangwei, and Dmitri were no exceptions.
Seojun relied on Super Sense and Prediction to sprint in the safest direction, with Li Zhangwei beside him. Dmitri trailed behind, her speed lagging.
"Run faster!"
"Hah... hah..."
"Run, you bitch! If you don't wanna die, run! Run!!"
Seojun grabbed her arm, cursing as he forced her onward.
"Aaaack!"
But Dmitri's legs gave out, and she tumbled.
Li Zhangwei glanced urgently at Seojun, who ordered immediately,
"Li Zhangwei! Go on ahead!"
"Master!"
"Go! Now!!"
At his command, Li Zhangwei ran. Seojun shed his armor.
Clang.
"Get on my back!"
"Hah... hah... just go..."
"Shut up! Get on before I kill you myself!"
Seojun silenced her and hoisted Dmitri onto his back, running.
The ogre pursued, devouring fleeing adventurers. Then it spotted Seojun and Dmitri, delayed slightly, and charged.
"Queeeek!!!"
Judging them easy prey, the ogre rushed. Seojun's Super Sense tingled with slight danger.
"Damn it!"
He set Dmitri down hastily. Still breathless, she thought he'd abandoned her but followed his orders.
"Run that way! Don't look back! Just run! Ditch the armor and weapons!"
"Hah... hah... got it."
Exhausted, Dmitri ditched everything and ran, expecting death. But then an unexpected sound from behind.
Whoosh. Whoosh.
"Quek!!"
Seojun hurled prepared daggers, inflicting minor wounds on the ogre. Its aggro locked onto him.
The ogre had been leisurely toying with humans as apex predator, prioritizing the exhausted Dmitri. But the unexpected pain from the poisoned daggers—even minor—enraged it.
"Queeeek!!!"
Its furious roar made the scattered charge squad—and even those waiting—flinch. Seojun's Super Sense and Prediction screamed extreme danger.
Whoosh. Boom!
A massive sound and explosion—like a meteor strike. A tree the ogre hurled smashed just behind Seojun.
He didn't look back, sprinting toward the rendezvous. Getting there fast was his path to survival.
"Whoosh... Boom! Whoosh... Boom! Whoosh... Boom!!"
The ogre hurled everything in reach while chasing. Seojun dodged without looking back, guided by Super Sense and Prediction.
But!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The ogre's earth-shaking strides closed the gap. Seojun played his final card.
"Sylph!"
He urgently summoned Sylph for a speed buff. His pace quickened slightly.
'Just hold out a bit longer here!'
He judged the next 10 minutes as the critical stretch.